Global sensation Donald Patz has enjoyed a wildly successful career by extracting the seductive aromas and profound depth of Pinot Noir, and wine critics have rewarded him handsomely: For decades, Patz’s wines have consistently placed at or near the top of Sonoma Valley ‘best-of’ lists and, for that, the spotlight has followed him. So, when he announced in 2017 that he was making an amicable departure from Patz & Hall—a region-defining label that he grew to international stardom over his 30-year tenure—all eyes were watching.

That same year, he made his way deep into Russian River Valley, located some gold-standard vineyards, and, like a viticultural mixologist, masterfully blended the prized fruit together. He emerged with only one limited, small-batch Pinot Noir. And, after maturing in tightly-grained, high-quality French oak and resting further in bottle, today’s richly layered, Grand Cru-level Pinot Noir is finally making its worldwide debut. This singular bottle has reinvigorated my already bright outlook on Russian River Pinot Noir by proving it can hold its own with the all-time greats of Burgundy, California, and Willamette Valley. Put simply, it’s a remarkable “first-ever” release, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise seeing as it’s crafted by one of California’s sharpest wine minds. Quantities are very limited!